按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
which she was to trust。
〃I can fly now; mother;〃 said the child; 〃I can fly with other
happy children into the presence of the Almighty。 I would fain fly
away now; but if you weep for me as you are weeping now; you may never
see me again。 And yet I would go so gladly。 May I not fly away? And
you will come to me soon; will you not; dear mother?〃
〃Oh; stay; stay!〃 implored the mother; 〃only one moment more; only
once more; that I may look upon thee; and kiss thee; and press thee to
my heart。〃
Then she kissed and fondled her child。 Suddenly her name was
called from above; what could it mean? her name uttered in a plaintive
voice。
〃Hearest thou?〃 said the child。 〃It is my father who calls
thee。〃 And in a few moments deep sighs were heard; as of children
weeping。 〃They are my sisters;〃 said the child。 〃Mother; surely you
have not forgotten them。〃
And then she remembered those she left behind; and a great
terror came over her。 She looked around her at the dark night。 Dim
forms flitted by。 She seemed to recognize some of them; as they
floated through the regions of death towards the dark curtain; where
they vanished。 Would her husband and her daughters flit past? No;
their sighs and lamentations still sounded from above; and she had
nearly forgotten them; for the sake of him who was dead。
〃Mother; now the bells of heaven are ringing;〃 said the child;
〃mother; the sun is going to rise。〃
An overpowering light streamed in upon her; the child had
vanished; and she was being borne upwards。 All around her became cold;
she lifted her head; and saw that she was lying in the churchyard;
on the grave of her child。 The Lord; in a dream; had been a guide to
her feet and a light to her spirit。 She bowed her knees; and prayed
for forgiveness。 She had wished to keep back a soul from its
immortal flight; she had forgotten her duties towards the living who
were left her。 And when she had offered this prayer; her heart felt
lighter。 The sun burst forth; over her head a little bird carolled his
song; and the church…bells sounded for the early service。 Everything
around her seemed holy; and her heart was chastened。 She
acknowledged the goodness of God; she acknowledged the duties she
had to perform; and eagerly she returned home。 She bent over her
husband; who still slept; her warm; devoted kiss awakened him; and
words of heartfelt love fell from the lips of both。 Now she was gentle
and strong as a wife can be; and from her lips came the words of
faith: 〃Whatever He doeth is right and best。〃
Then her husband asked; 〃From whence hast thou all at once derived
such strength and comforting faith?〃
And as she kissed him and her children; she said; 〃It came from
God; through my child in the grave。〃
THE END
。